Maureen M Pace

Maureen Pace (nee Murphy) formerly of Summit, New Jersey passed away peacefully Sunday morning, September 14th, with family by her side.
Maureen Therese Murphy was born in Torrington, CT on August 21, 1928, the eldest daughter of Terrence Murphy, Sr. and Mary Agnes (Richardson) Murphy. Beginning her education in a one room schoolhouse and then graduating from Torrington High School, Maureen received a full scholarship to attend Connecticut College for Women where she studied French and English, nurturing her lifelong love of language. From her youth Maureen wanted to become a teacher, and after graduating from Connecticut College, Maureen joined the faculty of the Torringford School as a kindergarten teacher. A lifelong learner and staunch advocate of education, Maureen completed her formal education in the graduate program at Teachers' College, Columbia University, during the summers. From an early age, Maureen loved to sing. In church, at school, and as an adult, Maureen joined choral groups and enjoyed performing a broad range of sacred and secular music.
After seven fulfilling years of teaching, Maureen married Leonard Pace on September 15, 1956. Making their home in New Jersey, they raised six children with a focus on family, academic achievement, and above all, kindness and love. As her children grew, Maureen started bowling and learned to play golf and became quite accomplished in both sports. While she had several children who participated in collegiate athletics, everyone knew that Maureen easily took the leading position in the trophy case. Maureen also enjoyed travelling to Africa, Asia and Europe with her husband and family. When grandchildren arrived, the former kindergarten teacher loved nothing more than watching, listening and laughing with glee as they learned and grew.
Above all, Maureen was a woman of tremendous faith. She was a parishioner at St. Teresa Church in Summit for 45 years, attending daily Mass frequently. After moving to New Vernon, she was a parishioner at Christ the King Church for more than a decade. Maureen also had a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary from her youth.
Maureen was predeceased by her husband Leonard and her eldest son L. Anthony (Tony) Pace. Maureen is survived by five children, Susan P. Gilbert (Doug) of Purcellville, VA; Daniel G. Pace (Anna) of Morris Township, NJ; Thomas W. Pace (Colleen) of Clarendon Hills, IL; M. Macaire Pace (Charles Owen) of Stockbridge, MA, Cathleen P. Lazor (Peter) of Kenilworth, IL, and her daughter-in-law Ellen H. Pace of New York, NY. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Liz and Leo Pace, Joshua Gilbert, Amelia and Clare Pace, Catherine, Madeline and Allison Pace, Maureen and Mia Pace, and Wyatt, Cooper and Alden Lazor. Maureen is also survived by her sisters, Rita Zeller (Jim) of Harwinton, CT and Regina Neal of West Hartford, CT, and many nieces and nephews and their families. Maureen was predeceased by her brothers, Terrence W. (Ted) Murphy Jr., of Torrington, CT, William W. (Bill) Murphy, of Goshen, CT, and her sister Elizabeth (Bette) Meyer of Torrington, CT.
Visitation will be held on Friday, September 19, at the Ippolito Funeral Home from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Contact information for Ippolito is: Ippolito Funeral Home, 7 Summit Ave., Summit, N.J. 07901, 908-273-1367. Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, September 20, at St. Teresa of Avila Church at 10:45 a.m. Contact information for St. Teresa is: St. Teresa of Avila Church, 306 Morris Ave., Summit, N.J. 07901, 908-277-3700. Interment will follow the Funeral Mass at St. Teresa of Avila Cemetery. The cemetery address is, St. Teresa of Avila Cemetery, 140 Passaic Ave., Summit, N.J. 07901. The family suggests that memorial donations may be directed to: Abbot Gerard P. Lair, O.S.B. Scholarship Fund, Development Office, Delbarton School, 230 Mendham Road, Morristown, N.J. 07960; or Foundation for Morristown Medical Center, 100 Madison Avenue, Morristown, N.J. 07960.